Victims of asbestos-related cancer and their families will gather for a tree planting ceremony to raise awareness of the disease 'time bomb' in Plymouth.
The poignant event is due to be held in the grounds of Saltram House, Plympton, on February 27 which is national Action Mesothelioma Day (AMD).
It has been organised by Jackie Lowe, who launched the Roger Lowe Asbestos Mesothelioma Campaign in memory of her dockyard worker father. Mr Lowe died of the cancer aged 68 in December 2005.
Jackie, aged 35 from Brixton, said: "We want to raise awareness of all asbestos-related conditions.
"The day is also about tying in Plymouth with the rest of the country. Despite our unfortunate links with asbestos-related conditions, it has taken a long time for people to come to terms with just how many people there are in the city affected by them. It's a ticking time bomb and numbers will peak in the next ten years."
Plymouth has been identified as the UK's fourth largest 'hotspot' for the disease, with 320 people dying from mesothelioma caused by asbestos between 1985 and 2004.
Cases are expected to peak between 2011 and 2015, as the condition takes between 30 to 40 years to emerge.
At 10.30am on February 27, families will gather near the entrance to Saltram House to plant a commemorative cedar of Lebanon.
Jackie said she also hopes to plant snowdrops at the tree's base.
There will also be a free walk-in advice clinic, with specialist medical, legal and benefits advice, and film about mesothelioma in Saltram House's Fennamore Room until 2pm.
White ribbons will be sold to raise funds for the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund.
The Roger Lowe campaign, supported by Roger's union Prospect and its solicitors Russell Jones and Walker, aims to provide a support network for mesothelioma sufferers and their families, raise funds and campaign for research into the disease, and raise awareness of the condition.
The poignant event is due to be held in the grounds of Saltram House, Plympton, on February 27 which is national Action Mesothelioma Day (AMD).
It has been organised by Jackie Lowe, who launched the Roger Lowe Asbestos Mesothelioma Campaign in memory of her dockyard worker father. Mr Lowe died of the cancer aged 68 in December 2005.
Jackie, aged 35 from Brixton, said: "We want to raise awareness of all asbestos-related conditions.
"The day is also about tying in Plymouth with the rest of the country. Despite our unfortunate links with asbestos-related conditions, it has taken a long time for people to come to terms with just how many people there are in the city affected by them. It's a ticking time bomb and numbers will peak in the next ten years."
Plymouth has been identified as the UK's fourth largest 'hotspot' for the disease, with 320 people dying from mesothelioma caused by asbestos between 1985 and 2004.
Cases are expected to peak between 2011 and 2015, as the condition takes between 30 to 40 years to emerge.
At 10.30am on February 27, families will gather near the entrance to Saltram House to plant a commemorative cedar of Lebanon.
Jackie said she also hopes to plant snowdrops at the tree's base.
There will also be a free walk-in advice clinic, with specialist medical, legal and benefits advice, and film about mesothelioma in Saltram House's Fennamore Room until 2pm.
White ribbons will be sold to raise funds for the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund.
The Roger Lowe campaign, supported by Roger's union Prospect and its solicitors Russell Jones and Walker, aims to provide a support network for mesothelioma sufferers and their families, raise funds and campaign for research into the disease, and raise awareness of the condition.
This article was originally published at thisisplymouth
on February 18, 2008
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